Paul Skenes was nearly untouchable Tuesday night, but it still wasn’t enough. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace became part of rare and unfortunate MLB history in a 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros.
Skenes tossed eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out eight and walking only one. Despite the elite performance, he took the loss, dropping his record to 4-6 with a 2.05 ERA on the season.
Rare Company With Pedro Martinez
According to Justin Havens of Underdog Fantasy, Skenes is the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 2000 to lose two games in one season with the following stat line:
- 8+ innings pitched
- 1 or fewer runs allowed
- 1 or fewer walks
- 8 or more strikeouts
It’s elite-level pitching with no reward, making this one of the saddest statistical club memberships in recent MLB memory.
Paul Skenes Shining Amid Pirates’ Struggles
The 23-year-old right-hander, already the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, has now struck out 85 batters in 83.1 innings. But his stellar outings continue to be wasted by a Pirates offense that ranks near the bottom of the league.
Pittsburgh fell to 22-39, sitting last in the National League Central, and has now been shut out nine times this season.
On the other side, Lance McCullers Jr. continued his comeback story with six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts, earning the win for Houston. The Astros improved to 33-27, moving half a game ahead in the AL West.
Even in a forgettable Pirates season, Paul Skenes continues to build a resume worth remembering, even if baseball history isn’t always kind.
